CBO finds immigration bill would save Gov't. money

The Congressional Budget Office estimated the measure would save $175 billion dollars, but lawmakers question how this would play out for entitlement programs such as Medicare.

The Wall Street Journal: CBO: Senate Immigration Bill To Save $175 Billion
[Sen. Jeff Sessions (R., Ala.)] said that while many illegal immigrants would be barred from receiving health care benefits for at least 10 years, they could become eligible in later years. Mr. Sessions also said the CBO didn't provide enough information to explain why illegal immigrants who gain legal status under the bill would pay more to the government than they receive in welfare payments or in entitlements, such as Medicare (Murray and Peterson, 6/18).

The Washington Post's Wonk Blog: Keeping Undocumented Immigrants Off The Dole Is Easier Said Than Done
A new report by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities highlights amendments by Rubio, and Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala). (Sessions's amendments were rejected in committee, and he's likely to oppose the bill.) Rubio is a Gang of Eight member, and Hatch voted for the bill in committee, but both have signaled that their support is tentative and that they could oppose the final bill. The lawmakers have three amendments that deal with benefits. The first prevents Social Security and Medicare taxes paid by undocumented immigrants who are then legalized from counting toward benefits upon those citizens' retirement (Matthews, 6/18).